Former US attorney says Trump DOJ's heavy redactions of Epstein files 'must be a cover-up'

One former federal prosecutor is asserting that President Donald Trump's Department of Justice (DOJ) is actively engaging in a "cover-up" due to significant redactions in Friday's release of Jeffrey Epstein documents.

During a Friday segment on MS NOW's "All In," Harry Litman — a former U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania — observed that the Epstein Files Transparency Act stipulated that the DOJ had 30 days to release all remaining Epstein-related evidence, with redactions allowed only to protect victims' identities and to protect ongoing investigations. He argued that the redactions seen in Friday's release go well beyond the legislation's boundaries.

"The law is the law. It's it's not a grand jury anymore," Litman said, stressing that the Trump administration was making redactions to lessen "reputational harm" of men named in the files.

"I just want to go to your upfront point about this. Could not be willy-nilly. It must be a cover up," he continued. "My 12-year old could do just the stats. You have one or two pictures or searches of Trump, over 100 of [former President Bill] Clinton ... Everything they say is to try to excuse the violation of law. No doubt about it."

Upon releasing the documents, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche (who is one of Trump's former personal criminal defense lawyers) said that there were more than 1,200 victims in the files, and that redactions were made not only to shield them but to also protect classified national security information and even attorney-client privilege. However, Litman maintained that the redactions were made to "control the narrative."

"I'm reminded a little bit of the [former DOJ special counsel Robert] Mueller report," he said. "They think ... the fronting of stuff involving Clinton and other people may obscure the stuff about Trump, but it's very, very far from what they're required to do."

Under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the DOJ has two weeks to explain any redactions to Congress. Lawmakers have already left Washington D.C. for the holiday recess, and are not due to return until early January.

Watch Litman's segment below:

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